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04/05/2006
Voting under way in local elections
Voting is under way in the local council elections in England.
In all 4,360 council seats are up for election in 176 out of the 386 councils, including all 32 London boroughs.
Around a third of the seats are also up for election in 36 metropolitan authorities and 20 unitary authorities.
Watford, Hackney, Newham and Lewisham are also holding mayoral elections.
Around 23 million are eligible to vote in the elections, which are only being held in England.
Polls opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm. The first results are expected to come in around midnight. However, the main focus will be on the London seats, many of which are expected to be decided by narrow margins. The results for many of the London seats are expected to be declared between 3am and 6am on Friday morning.
Police officers have been deployed at several inner-city polling stations in order to prevent vote-rigging.
West Midlands Police confirmed that officers would be sent to Bordesley Green In Birmingham, where alleged irregularities were uncovered relating to postal votes.
The Conservatives will be hoping to make major gains at the expense of Labour, who have suffered a disastrous week in the run-up to the elections, with the row over the release of foreign prisoners resulting in calls for Home Secretary Charles Clarke to resign, as well as revelation of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's affair with his secretary.
Currently, the Conservatives control 57 of the councils being contested, compared with 47 for Labour and 12 for the Liberal Democrats, with 59 councils under no overall control.
In London, Labour controls 15 of the councils, while the Tories have eight and the Lib Dems have three.
(KMcA/SP)
In all 4,360 council seats are up for election in 176 out of the 386 councils, including all 32 London boroughs.
Around a third of the seats are also up for election in 36 metropolitan authorities and 20 unitary authorities.
Watford, Hackney, Newham and Lewisham are also holding mayoral elections.
Around 23 million are eligible to vote in the elections, which are only being held in England.
Polls opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm. The first results are expected to come in around midnight. However, the main focus will be on the London seats, many of which are expected to be decided by narrow margins. The results for many of the London seats are expected to be declared between 3am and 6am on Friday morning.
Police officers have been deployed at several inner-city polling stations in order to prevent vote-rigging.
West Midlands Police confirmed that officers would be sent to Bordesley Green In Birmingham, where alleged irregularities were uncovered relating to postal votes.
The Conservatives will be hoping to make major gains at the expense of Labour, who have suffered a disastrous week in the run-up to the elections, with the row over the release of foreign prisoners resulting in calls for Home Secretary Charles Clarke to resign, as well as revelation of Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's affair with his secretary.
Currently, the Conservatives control 57 of the councils being contested, compared with 47 for Labour and 12 for the Liberal Democrats, with 59 councils under no overall control.
In London, Labour controls 15 of the councils, while the Tories have eight and the Lib Dems have three.
(KMcA/SP)
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04 May 2007
Election drubbing for Labour
Labour has experienced huge losses in England and Wales, and the SNP has made inroads in Scotland in Thursday's elections. As counting continued on Friday, revealing a Labour slide, in spite of the losses Prime Minister Tony Blair was defiant that Labour had a "good springboard" for a General Election.
Election drubbing for Labour
Labour has experienced huge losses in England and Wales, and the SNP has made inroads in Scotland in Thursday's elections. As counting continued on Friday, revealing a Labour slide, in spite of the losses Prime Minister Tony Blair was defiant that Labour had a "good springboard" for a General Election.
03 May 2007
'Super Thursday' voting underway
Voting in what has become known as 'Super Thursday' is underway in England, Scotland and Wales. In England the local council seats outside of London are being decided. In Scotland voters are going to the polls to decide the Scottish Parliament and local councils seats. And in Wales the Welsh Assembly elections are taking place.
'Super Thursday' voting underway
Voting in what has become known as 'Super Thursday' is underway in England, Scotland and Wales. In England the local council seats outside of London are being decided. In Scotland voters are going to the polls to decide the Scottish Parliament and local councils seats. And in Wales the Welsh Assembly elections are taking place.
02 May 2008
Thrashed Gordon!
Gordon Brown has described the emerging local elections results as "bad and disappointing" for Labour, as the party suffers its worst local election results in almost half a century. At early evening on Friday with 153 councils declared, Labour had lost a crippling 297 councillors as well as key councils such as Reading.
Thrashed Gordon!
Gordon Brown has described the emerging local elections results as "bad and disappointing" for Labour, as the party suffers its worst local election results in almost half a century. At early evening on Friday with 153 councils declared, Labour had lost a crippling 297 councillors as well as key councils such as Reading.
03 May 2013
Labour Win South Shields By-Election
Labour has won the South Shields parliamentary by-election. While it still retains a seat it has held since 1935, the party did see its majority reduced in the poll. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) finished second in Thursday's election with 24% share of the vote, while the Conservatives fell to third.
Labour Win South Shields By-Election
Labour has won the South Shields parliamentary by-election. While it still retains a seat it has held since 1935, the party did see its majority reduced in the poll. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) finished second in Thursday's election with 24% share of the vote, while the Conservatives fell to third.
05 April 2006
Blair and Brown launch local election campaign
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown have launched Labour's manifesto for the local elections in England on May 4. Mr Blair and Mr Brown presented a united front, following fresh allegations of a continuing rift between the pair.
Blair and Brown launch local election campaign
Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown have launched Labour's manifesto for the local elections in England on May 4. Mr Blair and Mr Brown presented a united front, following fresh allegations of a continuing rift between the pair.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
